Pavement

About MCDOT’s Pavement Management Program

The combined effects of the environment and traffic on a roadway will cause even the most well-designed and constructed roadway to deteriorate over time. However, with regular roadway maintenance we can slow down this deterioration process.

MCDOT has developed a Pavement Management Program to direct its pavement preservation process and establish a standardized pavement preservation plan for county roadways.

The Pavement Management Program:

Identifies all paved road segments

Records road evaluations

Generates pavement needs

Prioritizes preservation plans

Projects annual and multi-year funding needs; and

Tracks the maintenance history

Maintenance

Maintaining existing pavement according to the Pavement Management Program allows MCDOT to identify preservation treatments and timing that aim to prolong the life of the road by sealing cracks and waterproofing surfaces, slowing pavement weathering and aging, and improving surface appearance and friction.

Prior to performing pavement maintenance, residents will receive a color-coded notice informing them that pavement maintenance will be taking place and what they can expect.

If you receive a green notice on your door, crews are planning to apply crack seal to your roadway in the next 24 to 48 hours. A crack seal application is a rubberized material used to seal individual pavement cracks that are typically ¼ inch to four inches wide. Considered routine maintenance, crack sealing is often the first step for other treatment types. A crack seal treatment involves cleaning out existing cracks and sealing to prevent intrusion of water to the pavement base.

How long do I have to wait before I can drive on my road?Residents can drive on their road within 30 minutes to one hour after completion of the crack seal application and when crews have removed barricades from the work zone.

What can I expect in the future?You may feel slight movement when the rubber is first applied. This is because the rubber is applied at 300-400 degrees and needs time to settle which happens within six months of application.

If you receive a pink notice on your door, crews are planning to apply preservative seal to your roadway in the next 24 to 48 hours. A preservative seal is a spray application of a specialty formulated asphalt mixture that is applied to an existing asphalt pavement to extend or preserve the life of the surface. Also known as fog seal, a preservative seal slows the asphalt’s aging process and helps to renew the surface, seal small cracks and protect the road from UV rays.

How long do I have to wait before I can drive on my road?Weather permitting, residents will be able to drive on their road within two to four hours after completion of the material application. When initially sprayed, the material will appear a brownish color. Once it’s fully “set” and by the time vehicles are able to drive on it, it will change to a deep, black color.

What can I expect in the future?It’s normal, with time, for the seal color to fade.

If you receive a yellow notice on your door, crews are planning to apply chip seal to your roadway in the next 24 to 48 hours. A chip seal application is a combination of small aggregate (rocks) and asphalt binder being rolled out to create a level surface texture. The treatment is used to address pavement that is aging and has cracked surfaces.

How long do I have to wait before I can drive on my road?Residents will be able to drive on the road as soon as crews have completed the application and have cleared the work zone. However, loose rock may still be on the pavement and residents should drive slowly.

What can I expect in the future?Residents may notice slightly loose rock particles left on the road during the curing process. Crews will return the next day to sweep and, within three months, will schedule a final sweeping and inspection to ensure the material has properly embedded.

If you receive a blue notice on your door, crews are planning to apply slurry seal to your roadway in the next 24 to 48 hours. A slurry seal application is a mixture of asphalt binder, water and sand spread in a thin layer onto the existing pavement. Using this application helps to repair slight to moderate pavement damage.

How long do I have to wait before I can drive on my road?Residents should avoid driving on the road for three to four hours after completion of the work.

What can I expect in the future?Residents may notice a fine, sandy type material on gutters and sidewalks. Crews will return to sweep the loose rock and sand within the month. When slurry seal is first applied, it may be rough and have faint lines but with temperature changes and vehicular traffic, it will smooth.

If you receive an orange notice on your door, crews are planning to apply micro seal to your roadway in the next 24 to 48 hours. A micro seal application is similar to a slurry seal but contains larger aggregate (small, crushed rock) particles and quick-setting asphalt binders. A micro seal treatment is placed in a thick layer and helps to repair moderate to severe pavement damage and restore ride quality.

How long do I have to wait before I can drive on my road?Residents should avoid driving on the road for three to four hours after completion of the work to allow the seal to set up.

What can I expect in the future?Once the micro seal is applied, the pavement will appear to be rough in texture due to the material type but should smooth out within a week.